photography by Bob Young Photography

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photograph by Erika Pierson

Dave Beck, Midday Host, Classical KING FM 98.1, Seattle wrote:

The Seattle Collaborative Orchestra under Dr. Anna Edwards’ excellent musicianship, inspired vision, and creative leadership, is doing everything a modern orchestra should be doing to insure the future of the art of symphonic music. The spirit of collaboration among these professional, gifted amateur and excellent student musicians fosters innovation, diversity, and new possibilities in the life of the 21st century symphony orchestra. SCO is showing the way forward like no other orchestra in our region.

Along with her passion for diversity on the concert stage, in 2022 Edwards launched Anna’s Composer Database; a curated list of underrepresented composers that provides ideas for excellent, well-rounded, and interesting concert programs.

Conductor ANNA EDWARDS’ musical career progression as a violinist, educator, and symphony conductor has inspired her mission to encourage and promote musical diversity at the highest level from professional, educational, and collaborative music organizations across the country. She is a passionate advocate of music from underrepresented composers on the concert stage. Currently, Edwards balances her time between conducting in the Pacific Northwest, serving as a guest conductor/clinician across the country, and developing young musicians through instruction and collaboration with professionals in concert settings. 

The 2023-24 season marks the eleventh season for Edwards as Music Director of the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra, nineth season as Music Director of the Saratoga Orchestra, sixth season as Music Director of the Pacific Northwest Conducting Institute, and fourth season as team member of Everything Conducting.

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   photography by Bob Young Photography

Edwards continues to follow her commitment to program innovative music, which balances traditional classical music with music by women, underrepresented composers, and Northwest artists. Commissioned premieres include works by Joe Jaxson, Sarah Bassingthwaighte, Leanna Primiani, Julian Garvue, Brendan McMullen, Andy Clausen, David Lien, Tim Huling, Angelique Poteat, and Victoria Bond. Anna additionally offers lectures concerning music, gender, and leadership to up-and-coming musicians and community leaders in public schools, community businesses, colleges, and universities.

Edwards’ dedication to quality musical performance started with her early career as a professional violinist, performing with prestigious ensembles such as the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Northwest Sinfonietta, Auburn Symphony, and multiple Seattle area chamber ensembles. As she has turned her career towards conducting, Edwards has attended numerous festivals and workshops, with mentors such as Ludovic Morlot, Michael Jinbo, Diane Wittry, Neil Thomson, and Gustav Meier. She received a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Washington, and holds a Bachelor of Music Education and Masters in Violin Performance.

As music director of the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra (SCO), Anna's enthusiasm for promoting talented youth, creating community engagement, and nurturing musicality have been described as

… a win, win, win venture on so many levels…. Anna Edwards has taken a creative approach to career development and continuing education, community building, music education, re-invigoration of classical music, [and] encouraging the creation of new music...this really had it all. – Dave Beck, Midday Host, Classical KING FM 98.1, Seattle